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Babysitter
Lifeguard
Convenience store clerk
Two summers at some factory putting pieces in some machine that went in a circle....all day (this was ongoing motivation to stay in college....)

After college

Group home counselor for teenage boys (this was tough at times, but actually a lot of fun too)

Some strange job that I really hated - still am not sure what I did there, but I left after a few months.

Social Worker - investigating child abuse and neglect (this was the toughest, most emotionally draining thing I ever did. I made some great friends, but I dont know how people do it for their entire careers)

Programmer, and all following titles as you move up the corporate ladder (I was very fortunate to find a company that was looking for people who knew nothing about computers, so they could train them. It wasn't hard to convince them I was FULLY qualified. ) -

IT Manager

Of course this was back in the day when no one cared what your degree was in - they only cared you had one. I have neither a social work nor a computer science degree - not even close. I think it would be a lot harded to follow this career path today.....

KM, you were smart AND you were lucky. You an Oprah have alot in common! I would have done the exact same IF I had any tech in me at all, which I don't. Unfortunately. What can we say but bravo!

__________________Please consider adopting a rescue animal. So very many need a furr-ever home and someone to love them! And if we all spay/neuter our pets there won't be an overpopulation to put to death.

I was an actuarial and computer programming supervisor for most of the 23 years (1985-2008) I worked for a property and casualty insurance company trade group. I liked the work for some of the years but the commute was so intolerable it made me dislike the work near the end, too.

I don't miss any part of it one bit, especailly the commute. I can point the trains and laugh as they go by. When I see a news report about how the trains are screwed up that day or about how the fares are going to rise or services are going to be cut, I say to myself (again), "I am sooooo glad I don't have to deal with that garbage any more!"

Once I saw many of you listing all the jobs you had, not just what you might have done after college, I thought I should list the jobs I had, too.

For nearly 2 years, I worked at my public library while I was in high school.

In college, I worked as an usher at a Broadway theater for about a year. The show was "Oh! Calcutta!", the nudie show. I also did some tutoring in my dorm and was the attendant at the dorm's game room and quiet/study room for a few months. One day, I got paid for hours worked at all 3 places.

Later in college, I worked at the school's library. It was the NYU Bobst Library, one of the largest libraries around. It was a 10-story building although I worked on only one floor.

The summer jobs I had were working as a day camp counselor for two summers (the root cause of my being childfree BTW). I was a driver/messenger for a graphics copying company, the best and best-paying summer job I had. I delivered special copies of blueprints for construction and engineering companies during the big construction boom of the 1980s. For about 10 days I worked in the kitchen of the cafeteria and catering hall of my local golf course clubhouse. That was the worst job I ever had.

__________________
Retired in late 2008 at age 45. Cashed in company stock, bought a lot of shares in a big bond fund and am living nicely off its dividends. IRA, SS, and a pension await me at age 60 and later. No kids, no debts.

During college:
Worked at a gas station pumping gas and changing oil
Welivered pizza
Worked on an offshore oil drilling platform as a welder's helper during one summer
Dishwasher at a girls dorm (pay was free food)
Waiter at a girls dorm (again, for free food)
Apartment complex rental agent for free room
Delivery driver for a commercial real estate broker/management company

After college:
Sales agent for a commercial real estate company
Car salesman at a couple of big dealerships in Houston
Car sales at family dealership
Service sales at family dealership
Bought out partners in family dealership and became dealer

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This community was started in 2002 as an alternative to a then fee only Motley Fool. The focus of the discussions is on topics related to early retirement and financial independence. The community is moderated to ensure a pleasant experience for our members.